After last May’s three-peat festival, it looked like another record-breaking year would be difficult, but two of the big three summer movies came out of the gate strong and helped propel the box office to new heights, though considering inflation would change the outlook considerably.

Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull impressed audiences who also enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Speed Racer crashed and burned while The Strangers and Redbelt got big responses in limited release.

June started with popular hits like Kung Fu Panda, then Steve Carell‘s Get Smart and ended with a bang with monster box office openings for WALL-E and Angelina Jolie‘s Wanted.

Medium successes that were expected to pack more box office punch due to their large budgets included The Incredible Hulk and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Veteran actor Richard Jenkins built up some summer steam with The Visitor and Step Brothers, and looks to continue his rising status with the upcoming Burn After Reading.

Don’t Mess With the Zohan and The House Bunny continued the ascension of rising stars Emmanuelle Chriqui and Anna Faris, respectively. Lead females Cameron Diaz and Sarah Jessica Parker succeeded with What Happens in Vegas and Sex and the City.

Internationally known leading ladies including Anita Briem (Journey to the Center of the Earth), Michelle Yeoh, Penelope Cruz (Elegy and Vicky Christina Barcelona), and Melanie Thierry (Babylon A.D.) also got some prominent screen time at multiplexes this summer.

July’s first big movie out of the gate, Hancock, starring Will Smith, continued a trend of steady successes that also included Mamma Mia!, Step Brothers, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Look for a possible Oscar nomination for Meryl Streep’s lead performance in the ABBA-inspired musical Mamma Mia!.